Richardson_2001_Gastroenterology_121_350

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is a rare disease of childhood that presents early with intestinal hypoperistalsis, hydronephrosis, and hydroureters. Transgenic mice that lack the alpha3 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChR) have a phenotype similar to that of MMIHS.
METHODS: We examined the expression of this subunit in control and MMIHS tissue derived from patients using in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunocytochemistry (ICC).
RESULTS: In controls, both techniques showed a wide distribution of alpha3 nAChRs present in ganglion cells, muscle, and epithelium. By contrast, most MMIHS tissue gave negative staining with ISH and variable results with ICC.
CONCLUSIONS: These observations are consistent with a lack of alpha3 nAChRs contributing to the pathogenesis of MMIHS.